Murray: This is the best I've felt since surgery

Andy Murray says he is getting back to his best tennis despite narrowly losing out to Rafael Nadal at the Rome Masters.

Murray's wait for a first win over Nadal on clay continues after the world No.1 came from a set down to secure a 1-6 6-3 7-5 victory that moved him into semi-finals.

"I would have liked to have won because I had the opportunities and I started the match better than him," Murray told the ATP Tour official website.

"I felt going into the French I would be playing good tennis.

"I don't feel like people have respected the severity of having back surgery, it takes time and I feel I am getting closer to where I want to be. [This] was the best I hit the ball and best I felt physically since the surgery.

"I was expecting to start playing well around this time, so that's pleasing. I was disappointed with the game I played at 4-2 in the third, though.

"Against him you don't get a load of chances and he finished the game incredibly well. Physically he was stronger than me at the end, but it was a good match."